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Maple Bourbon Baked Beans

Sweet, smoky, and savory baked beans simmered with maple syrup, bourbon, and crispy bacon for the ultimate comfort side dish.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings: 8 cups
Course: Dinner, Side Dish
Cuisine: American, BBQ
Calories: 310
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Baked Beans Mixture
  • 6 cups cooked navy beans or 3 cans, drained and rinsed
  • 8 slices thick-cut bacon chopped
  • 1 large yellow onion finely diced
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1/2 cup pure maple syrup
  • 1/4 cup bourbon whiskey
  • 1/2 cup dark brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup ketchup
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon chili powder optional
  • fresh thyme or parsley for garnish

Equipment

  • Dutch oven
  • Mixing bowls
  • Wooden spoon
  • Oven

Method
 

  1. Cook bacon until crisp, remove, and reserve 1 tablespoon fat.
  2. Sauté onion until soft, then add garlic for 30 seconds.
  3. Add bourbon to deglaze, simmer 2 minutes.
  4. Stir in maple syrup, brown sugar, ketchup, tomato paste, Worcestershire, mustard, paprika, salt, and pepper.
  5. Mix in beans and most of the bacon.
  6. Bake covered at 350°F for 45 minutes, then uncovered for 20 minutes.
  7. Garnish with remaining bacon and thyme before serving.

Notes

These baked beans are ideal for BBQs, potlucks, or make-ahead sides. Adjust sweetness and spice to taste.